Zinc in cellular regulation: The nature and significance of “zinc signals”

TY - JOUR

T1 - Zinc in cellular regulation

T2 - The nature and significance of “zinc signals”

AU - Maret, Wolfgang

PY - 2017/10/31

Y1 - 2017/10/31

N2 - In the last decade, we witnessed discoveries that established Zn2+ as a second major signalling metal ion in the transmission of information within cells and in communication between cells. Together with Ca2+ and Mg2+, Zn2+ covers biological regulation with redox-inert metal ions over many orders of magnitude in concentrations. The regulatory functions of zinc ions, together with their functions as a cofactor in about three thousand zinc metalloproteins, impact virtually all aspects of cell biology. This article attempts to define the regulatory functions of zinc ions, and focuses on the nature of zinc signals and zinc signalling in pathways where zinc ions are either extracellular stimuli or intracellular messengers. These pathways interact with Ca2+, redox, and phosphorylation signalling. The regulatory functions of zinc require a complex system of precise homeostatic control for transients, subcellular distribution and traffic, organellar homeostasis, and vesicular storage and exocytosis of zinc ions.

AB - In the last decade, we witnessed discoveries that established Zn2+ as a second major signalling metal ion in the transmission of information within cells and in communication between cells. Together with Ca2+ and Mg2+, Zn2+ covers biological regulation with redox-inert metal ions over many orders of magnitude in concentrations. The regulatory functions of zinc ions, together with their functions as a cofactor in about three thousand zinc metalloproteins, impact virtually all aspects of cell biology. This article attempts to define the regulatory functions of zinc ions, and focuses on the nature of zinc signals and zinc signalling in pathways where zinc ions are either extracellular stimuli or intracellular messengers. These pathways interact with Ca2+, redox, and phosphorylation signalling. The regulatory functions of zinc require a complex system of precise homeostatic control for transients, subcellular distribution and traffic, organellar homeostasis, and vesicular storage and exocytosis of zinc ions.

KW - Homeostasis

KW - Regulation

KW - Signalling

KW - Zinc

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85032724743&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/ijms18112285

DO - 10.3390/ijms18112285

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:85032724743

SN - 1661-6596

VL - 18

JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences

JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences

IS - 11

M1 - 2285

ER -